Human Rights Activist Ales Bialiatski: ‘The presidential electoral campaign in Belarus continues in extremely unfavorable conditions’ (monitoring of the administrative trials that took place on 13 March)
The authorities violate the right of the candidates to presidential position to meet with the electors that is guaranteed by the Electoral Code. On 12 March in Minsk during the meeting with the candidate to the presidential position Aliaksandr Milinkevich the police detained more than 10 citizens of Belarus and 6 citizens of the Ukraine. On 13 March they were tried on accusation in participation in unauthorized mass action (article 167.1 of the Code of Administrative Violations).
The police also preventively detain a large number of youth activists who are then sentenced to different terms of arrest for ‘petty hooliganism’ (article 156 of the CAV). They also detain the activists of the electoral headquarters who distribute legally produced agitation materials.
On 13 March Belarusian human rights activists monitored the administrative trials of the detained activists. Here are the results.
Minsk Maskouski Borough Court:
Mikhail Volchak -sentenced to 12 days of jail for violation of article 156 of the CAV (petty hooliganism). Was detained on 12 March in one of Minsk streets. Severely beaten during the detention, police fractured one of his fingers. From the police station he was taken to a hospital that refused to accept him and then - to court.
Minsk Kastrychnitski Borough Court:
The court tried the persons who were detained at the electoral meeting with Aliaksandr Milinkevich that took place on 12 March near Saliut cinema in Minsk. The accusations were given by the terms of article 167.1 of the CAV except for Dzmitry Fabisheuski.
1. Dzmitry Fabisheuski - sentenced to 10 days of jail by the judge Natallia Pratasavitskaia for alleged violation of article 156 of the CAV (petty hooliganism). Was detained on 12 March while handing out the agitation materials of the candidate A.Kazulin;
2. Pavel Kirushchanka - 10 days of jail by N.Pratasavitskaia;
3. Siarhei Laurenkin - 10 days of jail by N.Pratasavitskaia;
4. Ivan Shcharbakou - 3 days of jail by N.Pratasavitskaia;
5. Uladzimir Vysotski - 3 days of jail by N.Pratasavitskaia.
Minsk Leninski Borough Court:
The court tried the persons who were detained at the electoral meeting with Aliaksandr Milinkevich that took place on 12 March near Saliut cinema in Minsk. The accusations were given by the terms of article 167.1 of the CAV (violation of the order of organization of mass actions).
1. Aliaksandr Hoishyk - sentenced to 15 days of jail by the judge Viktar Hanchar;
2. Illia Petravets - 8 days of jail by Iulia Shumskaia;
3. Uladzimir Valodzin - fined by Tatsiana Zhukouskaia.
Minsk Frunzeski Borough Court:
The court tried the persons who were detained at the electoral meeting with Aliaksandr Milinkevich that took place on 12 March near the Ice Palace in Minsk. The accusations were given by the terms of article 167.1 of the CAV.
1. Matsvei Chystsik -- sentenced to 10 days of jail by the judge Iulia Lukomskaia;
2. Anatoliy Yatsenko (citizen of the Ukrainie) - 10 days of jail by Iulia Lukomskaia;
3. Mykola Karpinskui (citizen of the Ukraine) - 10 days of jail by Viktoryia Stsiapanava;
4. Natallya Kosarchuk (citizen of the Ukraine) - 10 days of jail by Iulia Lukomskaia;
5. Aleh Larychau - fined;
6. Siarhei Matskoits - fined by the judge Viktoryia Stsiapanava.
The court also tried the persons who were detained on 12 March in Minsk and accused of ‘petty hooliganism’ (article 156 of the CAV):
1. Aleh Labaty - 3 days of jail;
2. Maksim Viniarski - the violation report returned to the police for further processing by the judge Viktoryia Stsiapanava.
Minsk Tsentralny Borough Court:
Aliaksei Liaukovich - sentenced to 15 days of jail. Was detained in Minsk on 10 March and accused of ‘petty hooliganism’ (article 156 of the CAV).
